CV joint gasket

Abstract

A constant velocity joint includes a body, a cup, an annular array of bolts, and an annular gasket. The body has a first planar surface. The cup has a second planar surface positioned adjacent the first planar surface. The annular array of bolts interconnects the cup and body. The annular gasket is interposed between the planar surfaces of the cup and the body. The gasket has a plurality of notches defined on an outer perimeter of the gasket sized to receive the array of bolts. The notches are spaced adjacent to a corresponding bolt and define an open space between the planar surfaces around a bolt periphery. The open space enables thread-locking fluid to escape without causing displacement of the gasket or separation of the planar surfaces. A method of transmitting torque through a CV joint is also contemplated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A constant velocity joint comprising:
 a body having a first planar surface; 
 a cup having a second planar surface positioned adjacent the first planar surface; 
 an annular array of bolts interconnecting the cup and body; and 
 an annular gasket interposed between the planar surfaces of the cup and the body using a plurality of tabs defining locating portions disposed in an array between the bolts, the gasket having an outer radial diameter substantially equal to an outer radial diameter of the first planar surface and greater than a radius of a bolt centerline and a plurality of notches defined on an outer perimeter of the gasket sized to receive the array of bolts, each of the notches being spaced adjacent to a corresponding bolt and defining an open space between the planar surfaces around a bolt periphery to an indentation on the gasket extending tangent from each of the notches. 
 
     
     
       2. The constant velocity joint of  claim 1 , wherein the indentation is defined for about 90 degrees of the bolt periphery. 
     
     
       3. The constant velocity joint of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs extend to the outer radial diameter of the gasket. 
     
     
       4. The constant velocity joint of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket prevents contact between the body and the cup at the first and second planar surfaces. 
     
     
       5. A transmission comprising:
 a first shaft; 
 a second shaft; 
 a CV joint interconnecting the first and second shafts having a cup and a body connected with an array of bolts wherein the first shaft splines to the body and the second shaft splines to the cup; and 
 a gasket interposed between the cup and body, the gasket having an outer radial diameter, which is greater than a radius of a bolt centerline and an array of notches sized to receive the bolts defined on a gasket outer perimeter, the notches defining an open space between the cup and body, wherein the open space is defined adjacent a bolt centerline between the gasket outer perimeter and an indentation defined in the notches and wherein the gasket further includes an array of tabs disposed between the notches, the tabs defining a plurality of semi-annular cutouts configured to locate the gasket between the first and second planar surfaces. 
 
     
     
       6. The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein the open space defines a plurality of open spaces arranged in an array corresponding to the array of notches. 
     
     
       7. A torque transmission method comprising:
 interconnecting a CV joint body and cup with a bolt array; and 
 interposing a gasket between the body and cup using a plurality of tabs defining semi-annular cutouts from a gasket inner radial diameter, the body and cup defining a notch array around a gasket outer perimeter corresponding to the bolt array and having an outer radial diameter, which is greater than a radius of a bolt centerline, the notch array including indentations adjacent a corresponding bolt defining an open space between the bolt centerline and indentations.